Stillwell Audio releases Bombardier Buss Compressor and updates 1973 EQ

Stillwell Audio has announced the release of Bombardier, described as "a premium quality buss compressor, tailored for smooth and musical processing of complex audio such as drum groups, vocal stems and your full stereo mix, lending a controllable sense of weight, fluidity and cohesion". Stillwell Audio has also updated the 1973 EQ plug-in.

Bombardier Buss Compressor

Bombardier gives a nod to the non-linear and frequency-variant subtleties of a wide range of Grade-A hardware buss compressors and, should you wish, these can be pushed almost into the realms of a character compressor. Bombardier is an RMS compressor well suited to final mixdown and mastering usage, and is also ideal for those who like to set up buss dynamics first and then mix 'into' the buss compressor.

Bombardier's party piece is the new and unique 'bomb' processing algorithm which, when selected, gives attack and release settings that are effectively instantaneous while yielding exceptionally smooth gain reduction. Stillwell Audio says that Bomb mode is sure to become a firm favourite with mastering engineers the world over, but can also give extremely satisfying results in single track and buss applications.

Five different and highly effective pre-emphasis filter modes vary Bombardier's response to the frequency spectrum and are key to preserving transparency during full-mix compression.

Bombardier is very flexible, offering forward/feedback topologies, variable and automatic release behaviours, sidechain operation, parallel processing and variable gain reduction range limiting. Choosing appropriate settings for the task at hand is critical to getting the best out of Bombardier, so a full range of well chosen presets are provided.

Pricing & Availability

Stillwell Audio believes that copy protection schemes and intentionally crippled demo versions only serve to degrade the experience of legitimate users, while presenting only a minor impediment to piracy. Therefore, SA plug-ins are available to all as fully functional, non-expiring evaluation versions. Licenses are reasonably priced, to encourage users doing the right thing.

Bombardier Buss Compressor is available for Windows, Windows x64 and Mac OS X in VST and AU effect plug-in formats for $59. A REAPER-only, non-commercial use license is available for $39.

Stillwell 1973 EQ

Stillwell Audio has also updated the 1973 EQ plug-in. Taking sympathy on the mid filter knob, for so long in the shadow of its so-popular neighbor (the High Shelf filter), Stillwell Audio has added two new width modes: Wide, for a more gentle mid response, and an Adaptive mode that varies the filter Q value based on the amount of cut/boost applied, with very musical and predictable results. 1973 has also received a gentle GUI refresh.